technical confidence

Sally Carson, a designer I met at SXSW, put together a thoughtful examination of what happens when people are intimidated by technology:

I think that instilling confidence into our audience â€” whether on the web or on an electronic device â€” is an important component of good interface design. Something about Philâ€™s phone intimidates him, and eventhough he is embarrassed when his phone rings so loudly (keep in mind, embarrassment is a strong motivational tool) he doesnâ€™t even attempt to change the settings himself because he is sure he wonâ€™t be able to figure it out.